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Birmingham2 - 0Sunderland

Birmingham eased their Premier League relegation fears with victory over Sunderland, who slumped to their eighth defeat in nine games.

The Blues took the lead just before half-time when Sebastian Larsson made the most of a defensive mix-up between Simon Mignolet and Phil Bardsley.

Craig Gardner made it 2-0 with a low 20-yard drive into the bottom corner.

Sunderland came closest to scoring through Stephane Sessegnon, who had a shot cleared off the line.

They also created chances for Jordan Henderson and Bardsley, but once again Sunderland, who scored for the first time in four games last weekend, found it difficult to find the back of the net.

That profligacy in front of goal, grouped with a string of injuries to key players and a run of bad results, means that Sunderland face a tough task to retain their top-flight status despite holding a five-point cushion on the bottom three.

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McLeish relishes 'massive step' for Birmingham

The Black Cats were forced to field their youngest-ever starting XI in the Premier League - at an average age of 23 years and 311 days - as a result of the host of injuries.

At the back they were missing Titus Bramble and Anton Ferdinand while midfielders Sulley Muntari and Kieran Richardson were also sidelined.

With first-teamers missing, the last thing an inexperienced outfit would have wanted was to concede early, but that nearly happened in the second minute.

Lee Bowyer launched the ball down the left leaving team-mate Cameron Jerome to contest possession with Michael Turner. The Blues forward easily accelerated past his marker and fired in an angled low shot that Mignolet did well to save with his feet.

The Wearside club responded well and created two opportunities in the space of 30 seconds when Lee Cattermole robbed the ball from Barry Ferguson 20 yards out but saw his subsequent low effort blocked by Ben Foster.

The Blues keeper was then rescued by team-mate Roger Johnson who got in the way of Stephane Sessegnon's follow-up shot.

Moments later, Stephen Carr made a vital interception to prevent Sessegnon from converting Danny Welbeck's dinked ball from the right.

Sunderland looked good value for at least a 0-0 scoreline at the break, but bad luck, with a sprinkle of calamity, struck the beleaguered side again.

On this occasion, Foster's punt downfield was flicked on by Jerome. Larsson made a beeline for the loose ball which either Bardsley or Mignolet looked favourite to clear. However, neither did and instead looked at each other accusingly as the Swede's shot flew in.

Sunderland promised much again after the break, with one-touch link-up play between Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck resulting in Jordan Henderson's 18-yard curling effort which brushed the wrong side of the netting.

Bardsley went even closer when his fierce deflected 25-yard drive looked goalbound until Foster dived to his right to deny the defender.

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Bruce pleased with Sunderland despite loss

But as in the first half, Sunderland conceded again against the run of play.

Substitute Alexander Hleb, who had been on the pitch for less than five minutes, danced around a couple of challenges before feeding Gardner, who looked up once before striking a powerful low shot that Mignolet could only palm into the net.

Sunderland continued to launch balls into the Birmingham area but the home defence coped admirably.

The closest the visitors came to scoring in the last 20 minutes was when Henderson's shot from eight yards was blocked by the boot of the impressive Johnson.

The win takes the Blues to 38 points and 14th spot, above Sunderland on goal difference.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish: "The opening goal typified our character and spirit. Larsson has been instrumental and an inspiration.

"Another win would take us close to where we'd like to be. But in this league you can't bank on anything."

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce: "We have to try and take the positives out of today and if we play like that, we can still turn the season around and finish with a flourish.

"We are in it (a relegation battle), no question about it. There are 10 teams in it and we are one of them.

"The lads know we have not got enough points. We have one point from nine games and we've got to try and arrest that slump."

"We've now got back-to-back home games with Wigan and Fulham so it is an opportunity to put things right.

"Maybe 41 points will be enough to stay up. One win might do it. I think so."

42:26 Effort on goal by Asamoah Gyan from 18 yards. Save by Ben Foster. Corner taken by Jordan Henderson from the right by-line,
Nedum Onuoha produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

41:31 The ball is swung over by Phillip Bardsley, clearance made by Stuart Parnaby.

40:08 The assist for the goal came from Cameron Jerome.

40:08 GOAL - Sebastian Larsson:Birmingham 1 - 0 Sunderland Goal scored by Sebastian Larsson from just outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Birmingham 1-0 Sunderland.

36:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin Phillips on Nedum Onuoha. Free kick taken by Simon Mignolet.

35:25 The ball is crossed by Asamoah Gyan, Stephen Carr manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Jordan Henderson from the right
by-line, clearance by Craig Gardner.

34:10 Long range effort by Phillip Bardsley goes wide right of the net.

34:04 The ball is swung over by Ahmed Elmohamady, clearance made by Sebastian Larsson.

32:33 Inswinging corner from left by-line crossed in by Jordan Henderson, Craig Gardner manages to make a clearance. Corner taken
right-footed by Jordan Henderson to the near post, Jack Colback takes a shot. Blocked by Barry Ferguson.

29:02 The ball is delivered by Sebastian Larsson, clearance made by Nedum Onuoha.

21:37 Danny Welbeck concedes a free kick for a foul on Barry Ferguson. Sebastian Larsson crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed
from left wing, Phillip Bardsley makes a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson from the right by-line,
clearance made by Asamoah Gyan.

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